EXHIBIT 10.5
EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT dated as of the 28 day of April 2003 (the "Agreement")
between CORNELL CAPITAL PARTNERS, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the
"Investor"), and ADVANCED VIRAL RESEARCH CORP., a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Company").
WHEREAS, the parties desire that, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions contained herein, the Company shall issue and sell to the Investor,
from time to time as provided herein, and the Investor shall purchase from the
Company up to Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000) of the Company's common stock,
par value $0.00001 per share (the "Common Stock"); and
WHEREAS, such investments will be made in reliance upon the provisions
of Regulation D ("Regulation D") of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
the regulations promulgated there under (the "Securities Act"), and or upon such
other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act as may
be available with respect to any or all of the investments to be made hereunder.
WHEREAS, the Company has engaged Katalyst LLC to act as the Company's
exclusive placement agent in connection with the sale of the Company's Common
Stock to the Investor hereunder pursuant to the Placement Agent Agreement dated
the date hereof by and among the Company, the Placement Agent and the Investor
(the "Placement Agent Agreement").
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1. "Advance" shall mean the portion of the Commitment Amount
requested by the Company in the Advance Notice.
Section 1.2. "Advance Date" shall mean the date Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP
Escrow Account is in receipt of the funds from the Investor and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
LLP, as the Investor's Counsel, is in possession of free trading shares from the
Company and therefore an Advance by the Investor to the Company can be made and
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP can release the free trading shares to the Investor. No
Advance Date shall be less than six (6) Trading Days after an Advance Notice
Date.
Section 1.3. "Advance Notice" shall mean a written notice to the
Investor setting forth the Advance amount that the Company requests from the
Investor and the Advance Date.
Section 1.4. "Advance Notice Date" shall mean each date the
Company delivers to the Investor an Advance Notice requiring the Investor to
advance funds to the Company, subject to the terms of this Agreement. No Advance
Notice Date shall be less than seven (7) Trading Days after the prior Advance
Notice Date.
Section 1.5. "Bid Price" shall mean, on any date, the closing bid
price (as reported by Bloomberg L.P.) of the Common Stock on the Principal
Market or if the Common Stock is not traded on a Principal Market, the highest
reported bid price for the Common Stock, as furnished by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Section 1.6. "Closing" shall mean one of the closings of a
purchase and sale of Common Stock pursuant to Section 2.3.
Section 1.7. "Commitment Amount" shall mean the aggregate amount
of up to Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000) which the Investor has agreed to
provide to the Company in order to purchase the Company's Common Stock pursuant
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
Section 1.8. "Commitment Period" shall mean the period commencing
on the earlier to occur of (i) the Effective Date, or (ii) such earlier date as
the Company and the Investor may mutually agree in writing, and expiring on the
earliest to occur of (x) the date on which the Investor shall have made payment
of Advances pursuant to this Agreement in the aggregate amount of Fifty Million
Dollars ($50,000,000), (y) the date this Agreement is terminated pursuant to
Section 2.5, or (z) the date occurring twenty-four (24) months after the
Effective Date or thirty six (36) months after the Effective Date if the Company
files either an amendment to the effective Registration Statement or a new
Registration Statement has been declared effective.
Section 1.9. "Common Stock" shall mean the Company's common stock,
par value $ 0.00001 per share.
Section 1.10. "Condition Satisfaction Date" shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 7.2.
Section 1.11. "Damages" shall mean any loss, claim, damage,
liability, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable
attorney's fees and disbursements and costs and expenses of expert witnesses and
investigation).
Section 1.12. "Effective Date" shall mean the date on which the SEC
first declares effective a Registration Statement registering the resale of the
Registrable Securities as set forth in Section 7.2(a).
Section 1.13. "Escrow Agreement" shall mean the escrow agreement
among the Company, the Investor and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP dated the date hereof.
Section 1.14. "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities and Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated there under.
Section 1.15. "Material Adverse Effect" shall mean any condition,
circumstance, or situation that would prohibit or otherwise materially interfere
with the ability of the Company to enter into and perform any of its obligations
under this Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement in any material
respect.
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Section 1.16. "Market Price" shall mean the lowest closing Bid
Price of the Common Stock during the Pricing Period.
Section 1.17. "Maximum Advance Amount" shall be Five Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($500,000) per Advance Notice.
Section 1.18. "Minimum Acceptable Price" shall mean a price of the
Company's Common Stock as determined by the Company on the Advance Notice Date
of which the Investor shall be advised of in writing simultaneously with the
Advance Notice. This designation operates as a floor for each Advance. The
Minimum Acceptable Price shall not be set any closer than seven and one-half
percent (7.5%) below the Closing Bid Price of the Common Stock the day prior to
the Advance Notice.
Section 1.19. "NASD" shall mean the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc.
Section 1.20. "Person" shall mean an individual, a corporation, a
partnership, an association, a trust or other entity or organization, including
a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.
Section 1.21. "Placement Agent" shall mean Katalyst LLC a
registered broker-dealer.
Section 1.22. "Pricing Period" shall mean the five (5) consecutive
Trading Days after the Advance Notice Date.
Section 1.23. "Principal Market" shall mean the Nasdaq National
Market, the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, the American Stock Exchange, the OTC
Bulletin Board or the New York Stock Exchange, whichever is at the time the
principal trading exchange or market for the Common Stock.
Section 1.24. "Purchase Price" shall be set at one hundred percent
(100%) of the Market Price during the Pricing Period.
Section 1.25. "Registrable Securities" shall mean the shares of
Common Stock to be issued hereunder (i) in respect of which the Registration
Statement has not been declared effective by the SEC, (ii) which have not been
sold under circumstances meeting all of the applicable conditions of Rule 144
(or any similar provision then in force) under the Securities Act ("Rule 144")
or (iii) which have not been otherwise transferred to a holder who may trade
such shares without restriction under the Securities Act, and the Company has
delivered a new certificate or other evidence of ownership for such securities
not bearing a restrictive legend.
Section 1.26. "Registration Rights Agreement" shall mean the
Registration Rights Agreement dated the date hereof, regarding the filing of the
Registration Statement for the resale of the Registrable Securities, entered
into between the Company and the Investor.
Section 1.27. "Registration Statement" shall mean a registration
statement on Form S-1 or SB-2 (if use of such form is then available to the
Company pursuant to the rules of the SEC and, if not, on such other form
promulgated by the SEC for which the Company then qualifies and which counsel
for the Company shall deem appropriate, and which form shall be available
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for the resale of the Registrable Securities to be registered there under in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Registration Rights
Agreement, and in accordance with the intended method of distribution of such
securities), for the registration of the resale by the Investor of the
Registrable Securities under the Securities Act.
Section 1.28. "Regulation D" shall have the meaning set forth in
the recitals of this Agreement.
Section 1.29. "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Section 1.30. "Securities Act" shall have the meaning set forth in
the recitals of this Agreement.
Section 1.31. "SEC Documents" shall mean Annual Reports on Form
10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and Proxy
Statements of the Company as supplemented to the date hereof, filed by the
Company for a period of at least twelve (12) months immediately preceding the
date hereof or the Advance Date, as the case may be, until such time as the
Company no longer has an obligation to maintain the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement as set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
Section 1.32. "Trading Day" shall mean any day during which the New
York Stock Exchange shall be open for business.
ARTICLE II.
ADVANCES
Section 2.1. Advances. Upon the terms and conditions set forth
herein (including, without limitation, the provisions of Article VII hereof), on
any Advance Notice Date the Company may request an Advance by the Investor by
the delivery of an Advance Notice. The number of shares of Common Stock that the
Investor shall receive for each Advance shall be determined by dividing the
amount of the Advance by the Purchase Price. No fractional shares shall be
issued. Fractional shares shall be rounded to the next higher whole number of
shares. The aggregate maximum amount of all Advances that the Investor shall be
obligated to make under this Agreement shall not exceed the Commitment Amount.
Section 2.2. Mechanics.
(a) Advance Notice. At any time during the Commitment
Period, the Company may deliver an Advance Notice to the Investor, subject to
the conditions set forth in Section 7.2; provided, however, the amount for each
Advance as designated by the Company in the applicable Advance Notice, shall not
be more than the Maximum Advance Amount. The aggregate amount of the Advances
pursuant to this Agreement shall not exceed the Commitment Amount. The Company
acknowledges that the Investor may sell shares of the Company's Common Stock
corresponding with a particular Advance Notice on the day the Advance Notice is
received by the Investor. There will be a minimum of seven (7) Trading Days
between each Advance Notice Date.
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(b) Minimum Acceptable Price. Simultaneous with each
Advance Notice, the Company shall specify the Minimum Acceptable Price for such
Advance. This designation shall operate as a floor for such Advance. The
Investor shall not sell any Common Stock corresponding to a particular Advance
below the Minimum Acceptable Price. The Company shall not be obligated to issue
any shares of Common Stock for a particular Advance at a price per share less
than the Minimum Acceptable Price. The Company shall automatically withdraw a
pro rata portion of the Advance Notice amount based on the number of days the
closing bid price of the Company's Common Stock (as reported by Bloomberg, L.P.)
during the Pricing Period is lower than the Minimum Acceptable Price. The shares
of Common Stock issued shall also be reduced to correspond with the reduction in
the Advance Notice amount. For example, if the closing Bid Price of the
Company's Common Stock on the Advance Notice Date is $0.09, and the Minimum
Acceptable Price as determined by the Company is $0.08. For every day during the
Pricing Period that the closing Bid Price of the Company's Common Stock is below
$0.08 the Advance Notice amount shall be reduced by Twenty Percent (20%). If the
Advance Notice amount is One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) and the closing
bid price of the Company's Common Stock is below the Minimum Acceptable Price
for two (2) of the five (5) days of the Pricing Period, the Purchase Amount
shall be reduced by 40% (2 x 20%) or Forty Thousand Dollars ($40,000) (40% of
$100,000 = $40,000) and therefore the reduced Advance Notice amount shall be
Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000) (the "Reduced Advance Notice Amount")
($100,000-$40,000 = $60,000). Accordingly the number of shares of Common Stock
issued to the Investor shall be reduced and calculated by dividing the Reduced
Advance Notice amount by the Purchase Price which must be above the Minimum
Acceptable Price.
(c) Date of Delivery of Advance Notice. An Advance Notice
shall be deemed delivered on (i) the Trading Day it is received by facsimile or
otherwise by the Investor if such notice is received prior to 12:00 noon Eastern
Time, or (ii) the immediately succeeding Trading Day if it is received by
facsimile or otherwise after 12:00 noon Eastern Time on a Trading Day or at any
time on a day which is not a Trading Day. No Advance Notice may be deemed
delivered, on a day that is not a Trading Day.
(d) Pre-Closing Share Credit. Within two (2) business
days after the Advance Notice Date, the Company shall credit shares of the
Company's Common Stock to the Investor's balance account with The Depository
Trust Company through its Deposit Withdrawal At Custodian system, in an amount
equal to the amount of the requested Advance divided by the closing Bid Price of
the Company's Common Stock as of the Advance Notice Date multiplied by one point
one (1.1). Any adjustments to the number of shares to be delivered to the
Investor at the Closing as a result of fluctuations in the closing Bid Price of
the Company's Common Stock shall be made as of the date of the Closing. Any
excess shares shall be credited to the next Advance. In no event shall the
number of shares issuable to the Investor pursuant to an Advance cause the
Investor to own in excess of nine and 9/10 percent (9.9%) of the then
outstanding Common Stock of the Company.
(e) Hardship. In the event the Investor sells the
Company's Common Stock pursuant to subsection (c) above and the Company fails to
perform its obligations as mandated in Section 2.5 and 2.2 (c), and specifically
fails to provide the Investor with the shares of Common Stock for the applicable
Advance, the Company acknowledges that the Investor shall suffer
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financial hardship and therefore shall be liable for any and all losses,
commissions, fees, or financial hardship caused to the Investor.
Section 2.3. Closings. On each Advance Date, which shall be six
(6) Trading Days after an Advance Notice Date, (i) the Company shall deliver to
the Investor's Counsel, as defined pursuant to the Escrow Agreement, shares of
the Company's Common Stock, representing the amount of the Advance by the
Investor pursuant to Section 2.1 herein, registered in the name of the Investor
which shall be delivered to the Investor, or otherwise in accordance with the
Escrow Agreement and (ii) the Investor shall deliver to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP (the
"Escrow Agent") the amount of the Advance specified in the Advance Notice by
wire transfer of immediately available funds which shall be delivered to the
Company, or otherwise in accordance with the Escrow Agreement. In addition, on
or prior to the Advance Date, each of the Company and the Investor shall deliver
to the other through the Investor's Counsel all documents, instruments and
writings required to be delivered by either of them pursuant to this Agreement
in order to implement and effect the transactions contemplated herein. Payment
of funds to the Company and delivery of the Company's Common Stock to the
Investor shall occur in accordance with the conditions set forth above and those
contained in the Escrow Agreement; provided, however, that to the extent the
Company has not paid the fees, expenses, and disbursements of the Investor the
Investor's counsel or Xxxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP in accordance with Section
12.4, the amount of such fees, expenses, and disbursements may be deducted by
the Investor (and shall be paid to the relevant party) from the amount of the
Advance with no reduction in the amount of shares of the Company's Common Stock
to be delivered on such Advance Date.
Section 2.4. Termination of Investment. The obligation of the
Investor to make an Advance to the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall
terminate permanently (including with respect to an Advance Date that has not
yet occurred) in the event that (i) there shall occur any stop order or
suspension of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement for an aggregate
of fifty (50) Trading Days, other than due to the acts of the Investor, during
the Commitment Period, and (ii) the Company shall at any time fail materially to
comply with the requirements of Article VI and such failure is not cured within
thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice from the Investor, provided,
however, that this termination provision shall not apply to any period
commencing upon the filing of a post-effective amendment to such Registration
Statement and ending upon the date on which such post effective amendment is
declared effective by the SEC..
Section 2.5. Agreement to Advance Funds.
(a) The Investor agrees to advance the amount specified
in the Advance Notice to the Company after the completion of each of the
following conditions and the other conditions set forth in this Agreement:
(i) the execution and delivery by the Company,
and the Investor, of this Agreement, and the Exhibits hereto;
(ii) Investor's Counsel shall have received the
shares of Common Stock applicable to the Advance in accordance with Section
2.2(c) hereof;
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(iii) the Company's Registration Statement with
respect to the resale of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms
of the Registration Rights Agreement shall have been declared effective by the
SEC;
(iv) the Company shall have obtained all material
permits and qualifications required by any applicable state for the offer and
sale of the Registrable Securities, or shall have the availability of exemptions
there from. The sale and issuance of the Registrable Securities shall be legally
permitted by all laws and regulations to which the Company is subject;
(v) the Company shall have filed with the
Commission in a timely manner all reports, notices and other documents required
of a "reporting company" under the Exchange Act and applicable Commission
regulations;
(vi) the fees as set forth in Section 12.4 below
shall have been paid or can be withheld as provided in Section 2.3; and
(vii) the conditions set forth in Section 7.2
shall have been satisfied.
(viii) The Company shall have provided to the
Investor an acknowledgement, from Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Xxxxx as to its ability to
provide all consents required in order to file a registration statement in
connection with this transaction;
(ix) The Company's transfer agent shall be DWAC
eligible.
Section 2.6. Lock Up Period.
(i) During the Commitment Period, the Company
shall not, issue or sell (i) any Common Stock or preferred stock without
consideration or (ii) issue or sell any preferred stock or any warrant, option,
right, contract, call, or other security or instrument granting the holder
thereof the right to acquire Common Stock without consideration or for a
consideration per share less than the Bid Price on the date of issuance.
(ii) On the date hereof, the Company shall obtain
from each officer and director a lock-up agreement, as defined below, in the
form annexed hereto as Schedule 2.6(b) agreeing to only sell in compliance with
the volume limitation of Rule 144.
ARTICLE III.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF INVESTOR
Investor hereby represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the
Company that the following are true and as of the date hereof and as of each
Advance Date:
Section 3.1. Organization and Authorization. The Investor is duly
incorporated or organized and validly existing in the jurisdiction of its
incorporation or organization and has all requisite power and authority to
purchase and hold the securities issuable hereunder. The decision to invest and
the execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Investor, the performance
by such Investor of its obligations hereunder and the consummation by such
Investor of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized and
requires no other
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proceedings on the part of the Investor. The undersigned has the right, power
and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and all other instruments
(including, without limitations, the Registration Rights Agreement), on behalf
of the Investor. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the
Investor and, assuming the execution and delivery hereof and acceptance thereof
by the Company, will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the
Investor, enforceable against the Investor in accordance with its terms.
Section 3.2. Evaluation of Risks. The Investor has such knowledge
and experience in financial tax and business matters as to be capable of
evaluating the merits and risks of, and bearing the economic risks entailed by,
an investment in the Company and of protecting its interests in connection with
this transaction. It recognizes that its investment in the Company involves a
high degree of risk.
Section 3.3. No Legal Advice From the Company. The Investor
acknowledges that it had the opportunity to review this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement with his or its own legal counsel
and investment and tax advisors. The Investor is relying solely on such counsel
and advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any
of its representatives or agents for legal, tax or investment advice with
respect to this investment, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or
the securities laws of any jurisdiction.
Section 3.4. Investment Purpose. The securities are being
purchased by the Investor for its own account, for investment and without any
view to the distribution, assignment or resale to others or fractionalization in
whole or in part. The Investor agrees not to assign or in any way transfer the
Investor's rights to the securities or any interest therein and acknowledges
that the Company will not recognize any purported assignment or transfer except
in accordance with applicable Federal and state securities laws. No other person
has or will have a direct or indirect beneficial interest in the securities. The
Investor agrees not to sell, hypothecate or otherwise transfer the Investor's
securities unless the securities are registered under Federal and applicable
state securities laws or unless, in the opinion of counsel satisfactory to the
Company, an exemption from such laws is available.
Section 3.5. Accredited Investor. The Investor is an "Accredited
Investor" as that term is defined in Rule 501(a)(3) of Regulation D of the
Securities Act.
Section 3.6. Information. The Investor and its advisors (and its
counsel), if any, have been furnished with all materials relating to the
business, finances and operations of the Company and information it deemed
material to making an informed investment decision. The Investor and its
advisors, if any, have been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the
Company and its management. Neither such inquiries nor any other due diligence
investigations conducted by such Investor or its advisors, if any, or its
representatives shall modify, amend or affect the Investor's right to rely on
the Company's representations and warranties contained in this Agreement. The
Investor understands that its investment involves a high degree of risk. The
Investor is in a position regarding the Company, which, based upon employment,
family relationship or economic bargaining power, enabled and enables such
Investor to obtain information from the Company in order to evaluate the merits
and risks of this investment. The
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Investor has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice, as it has considered
necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to this
transaction.
Section 3.7. Receipt of Documents. The Investor and its counsel
has received and read in their entirety: (i) this Agreement and the Exhibits
annexed hereto; (ii) all due diligence and other information necessary to verify
the accuracy and completeness of such representations, warranties and covenants;
(iii) the Company's Form 10-KSB for the year ended year ended December 31, 2002
and Form 10-QSB for the period ended March 31, 2002, June 30, 2002 and September
30, 2002; and (iv) answers to all questions the Investor submitted to the
Company regarding an investment in the Company; and the Investor has relied on
the information contained therein and has not been furnished any other
documents, literature, memorandum or prospectus.
Section 3.8. Registration Rights Agreement and Escrow Agreement.
The parties have entered into the Registration Rights Agreement and the Escrow
Agreement, each dated the date hereof.
Section 3.9. No General Solicitation. Neither the Company, nor any
of its affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf, has engaged in
any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of
Regulation D under the Securities Act) in connection with the offer or sale of
the shares of Common Stock offered hereby.
Section 3.10. Not an Affiliate. The Investor is not an officer,
director or a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with
the Company or any "Affiliate" of the Company (as that term is defined in Rule
405 of the Securities Act). Neither the Investor nor its Affiliates has an open
short position in the Common Stock of the Company, and the Investor agrees that
it will not, and that it will cause its Affiliates not to, engage in any short
sales of or hedging transactions with respect to the Common Stock, provided that
the Company acknowledges and agrees that upon receipt of an Advance Notice the
Investor will sell the Shares to be issued to the Investor pursuant to the
Advance Notice, even if the Shares have not been delivered to the Investor.
Section 3.11. Trading Activities. The Investor's trading activities
with respect to the Company's Common Stock shall be in compliance with all
applicable federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations and the
rules and regulations of the Principal Market on which the Company's Common
Stock is listed or traded. Neither the Investor nor its affiliates has an open
short position in the Common Stock of the Company and, except as set forth
below, the Investor shall not and will cause its affiliates not to engage in any
short sale as defined in any applicable SEC or National Association of
Securities Dealers rules on any hedging transactions with respect to the Common
Stock. The Investor shall be entitled to sell Common Stock during the applicable
Pricing Period.
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ARTICLE IV.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Except as stated below, on the disclosure schedules attached hereto or
in the SEC Documents (as defined herein), the Company hereby represents and
warrants to, and covenants with, the Investor that the following are true and
correct as of the date hereof:
Section 4.1. Organization and Qualification. The Company is duly
incorporated or organized and validly existing in the jurisdiction of its
incorporation or organization and has all requisite power and authority
corporate power to own its properties and to carry on its business as now being
conducted. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries is duly qualified as a
foreign corporation to do business and is in good standing in every jurisdiction
in which the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification
necessary, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in
good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole.
Section 4.2. Authorization, Enforcement, Compliance with Other
Instruments. (i) The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to
enter into and perform this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the
Escrow Agreement, the Placement Agent Agreement and any related agreements, in
accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, (ii) the execution and delivery of
this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, the
Placement Agent Agreement and any related agreements by the Company and the
consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, have
been duly authorized by the Company's Board of Directors and no further consent
or authorization is required by the Company, its Board of Directors or its
stockholders, (iii) this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the
Escrow Agreement, the Placement Agent Agreement and any related agreements have
been duly executed and delivered by the Company, (iv) this Agreement, the
Registration Rights Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, the Placement Agent
Agreement and assuming the execution and delivery thereof and acceptance by the
Investor and any related agreements constitute the valid and binding obligations
of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms,
except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or
similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of creditors'
rights and remedies.
Section 4.3. Capitalization. As of March 31, 2003, the authorized
capital stock of the Company consists of 1,000,000,000 shares of Common Stock,
par value 0.00001 per share of which 474,042,609 shares of Common Stock are
issued and outstanding. All of such outstanding shares have been validly issued
and are fully paid and nonassessable. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents,
no shares of Common Stock are subject to preemptive rights or any other similar
rights or any liens or encumbrances suffered or permitted by the Company. Except
as disclosed in the SEC Documents, as of the date hereof, (i) there are no
outstanding options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or
commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights
convertible into, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which
the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may become bound to issue
additional shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to,
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calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or
rights convertible into, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, (ii) there are no outstanding debt securities (iii) there are
no outstanding registration statements other than on Form S-8 and there are no
outstanding comment letters from the SEC or any other regulatory agency and (iv)
there are no agreements or arrangements under which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is obligated to register the sale of any of their securities under
the Securities Act (except pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement). There
are no securities or instruments containing anti-dilution or similar provisions
that will be triggered by this Agreement or any related agreement or the
consummation of the transactions described herein or therein. The Company has
furnished to the Investor true and correct copies of the Company's Certificate
of Incorporation, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof (the
"Certificate of Incorporation"), and the Company's By-laws, as in effect on the
date hereof (the "By-laws"), and the terms of all securities convertible into or
exercisable for Common Stock and the material rights of the holders thereof in
respect thereto.
Section 4.4. No Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the
transactions contemplated hereby will not (i) result in a violation of the
Certificate of Incorporation, any certificate of designations of any outstanding
series of preferred stock of the Company or By-laws or (ii) conflict with or
constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both
would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination,
amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or
instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party, or result
in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree
(including federal and state securities laws and regulations and the rules and
regulations of the Principal Market on which the Common Stock is quoted)
applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or by which any material
property or asset of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or affected
and which would cause a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the SEC
Documents, neither the Company nor its subsidiaries is in violation of any term
of or in default under its Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws or their
organizational charter or by-laws, respectively, or any material contract,
agreement, mortgage, indebtedness, indenture, instrument, judgment, decree or
order or any statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or its
subsidiaries. The business of the Company and its subsidiaries is not being
conducted in violation of any material law, ordinance, regulation of any
governmental entity. Except as specifically contemplated by this Agreement and
as required under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws,
the Company is not required to obtain any consent, authorization or order of, or
make any filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency in order
for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its obligations under or
contemplated by this Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement in
accordance with the terms hereof or thereof. All consents, authorizations,
orders, filings and registrations which the Company is required to obtain
pursuant to the preceding sentence have been obtained or effected on or prior to
the date hereof. The Company and its subsidiaries are unaware of any fact or
circumstance which might give rise to any of the foregoing.
Section 4.5. SEC Documents; Financial Statements. Since January 1,
2001 the Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other
documents required to be filed by it with the SEC under of the Exchange Act. The
Company has delivered to the Investor or its representatives, or made available
through the SEC's website at xxxx://xxx.xxx.xxx, true
11
and complete copies of the SEC Documents. As of their respective dates, the
financial statements of the Company disclosed in the SEC Documents (the
"Financial Statements") complied as to form in all material respects with
applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of
the SEC with respect thereto. Such financial statements have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied,
during the periods involved (except (i) as may be otherwise indicated in such
financial statements or the notes thereto, or (ii) in the case of unaudited
interim statements, to the extent they may exclude footnotes or may be condensed
or summary statements) and, fairly present in all material respects the
financial position of the Company as of the dates thereof and the results of its
operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of
unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments). No other
information provided by or on behalf of the Company to the Investor which is not
included in the SEC Documents contains any untrue statement of a material fact
or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
Section 4.6. 10b-5. The SEC Documents do not include any untrue
statements of material fact, nor do they omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein necessary to make the statements made, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
Section 4.7. No Default. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents,
the Company is not in default in the performance or observance of any material
obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust or other material instrument or agreement to which it is
a party or by which it is or its property is bound and neither the execution,
nor the delivery by the Company, nor the performance by the Company of its
obligations under this Agreement or any of the exhibits or attachments hereto
will conflict with or result in the breach or violation of any of the terms or
provisions of, or constitute a default or result in the creation or imposition
of any lien or charge on any assets or properties of the Company under its
Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws, any material indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust or other material agreement applicable to the Company or instrument to
which the Company is a party or by which it is bound, or any statute, or any
decree, judgment, order, rules or regulation of any court or governmental agency
or body having jurisdiction over the Company or its properties, in each case
which default, lien or charge is likely to cause a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company's business or financial condition.
Section 4.8. Absence of Events of Default. Except for matters
described in the SEC Documents and/or this Agreement, no Event of Default, as
defined in the respective agreement to which the Company is a party, and no
event which, with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both, would
become an Event of Default (as so defined), has occurred and is continuing,
which would have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company's business,
properties, prospects, financial condition or results of operations.
Section 4.9. Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its
subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights or licenses to use all material
trademarks, trade names, service marks, service xxxx registrations, service
names, patents, patent rights, copyrights, inventions, licenses, approvals,
governmental authorizations, trade secrets and rights necessary to conduct their
12
respective businesses as now conducted. The Company and its subsidiaries do not
have any knowledge of any infringement by the Company or its subsidiaries of
trademark, trade name rights, patents, patent rights, copyrights, inventions,
licenses, service names, service marks, service xxxx registrations, trade secret
or other similar rights of others, and, to the knowledge of the Company, there
is no claim, action or proceeding being made or brought against, or to the
Company's knowledge, being threatened against, the Company or its subsidiaries
regarding trademark, trade name, patents, patent rights, invention, copyright,
license, service names, service marks, service xxxx registrations, trade secret
or other infringement; and the Company and its subsidiaries are unaware of any
facts or circumstances which might give rise to any of the foregoing.
Section 4.10. Employee Relations. Neither the Company nor any of
its subsidiaries is involved in any labor dispute nor, to the knowledge of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, is any such dispute threatened. None of the
Company's or its subsidiaries' employees is a member of a union and the Company
and its subsidiaries believe that their relations with their employees are good.
Section 4.11. Environmental Laws. The Company and its subsidiaries
are (i) in compliance with any and all applicable material foreign, federal,
state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health
and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes,
pollutants or contaminants ("Environmental Laws"), (ii) have received all
permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable
Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) are in
compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or
approval.
Section 4.12. Title. Except as set forth in the SEC Documents, the
Company has good and marketable title to its properties and material assets
owned by it, free and clear of any pledge, lien, security interest, encumbrance,
claim or equitable interest other than such as are not material to the business
of the Company. Any real property and facilities held under lease by the Company
and its subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable
leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the
use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company
and its subsidiaries.
Section 4.13. Insurance. The Company and each of its subsidiaries
are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such
losses and risks and in such amounts as management of the Company believes to be
prudent and customary in the businesses in which the Company and its
subsidiaries are engaged. Neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has been
refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for and neither the Company nor
any such subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew
its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain
similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its
business at a cost that would not materially and adversely affect the condition,
financial or otherwise, or the earnings, business or operations of the Company
and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
Section 4.14. Regulatory Permits. The Company and its subsidiaries
possess all material certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the
appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to
conduct their respective businesses, and neither the Company
13
nor any such subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the
revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit.
Section 4.15. Internal Accounting Controls. The Company and each of
its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to
provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance
with management's general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are
recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset
accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with
management's general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded
accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable
intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
Section 4.16. No Material Adverse Breaches, etc. Except as set
forth in the SEC Documents and except for a right of first refusal to an
investor, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is subject to any
charter, corporate or other legal restriction, or any judgment, decree, order,
rule or regulation which in the judgment of the Company's officers has or is
expected in the future to have a Material Adverse Effect on the business,
properties, operations, financial condition, results of operations or prospects
of the Company or its subsidiaries. Except as set forth in the SEC Documents,
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in breach of any contract or
agreement which breach, in the judgment of the Company's officers, has or is
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the business, properties,
operations, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of the
Company or its subsidiaries.
Section 4.17. Absence of Litigation. Except as set forth in the SEC
Documents, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before
or by any court, public board, government agency, self-regulatory organization
or body pending against or affecting the Company, the Common Stock or any of the
Company's subsidiaries, wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding would
(i) have a Material Adverse Effect on the transactions contemplated hereby (ii)
adversely affect the validity or enforceability of, or the authority or ability
of the Company to perform its obligations under, this Agreement or any of the
documents contemplated herein, or (iii) except as expressly disclosed in the SEC
Documents, have a Material Adverse Effect on the business, operations,
properties, financial condition or results of operation of the Company and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole.
Section 4.18. Subsidiaries. Except as disclosed in the SEC
Documents, the Company does not presently own or control, directly or
indirectly, any interest in any other corporation, partnership, association or
other business entity.
Section 4.19. Tax Status. The Company and each of its subsidiaries
has made or filed all federal and state income and all other tax returns,
reports and declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject and
(unless and only to the extent that the Company and each of its subsidiaries has
set aside on its books provisions reasonably adequate for the payment of all
unpaid and unreported taxes) has paid all taxes and other governmental
assessments and charges that are material in amount, shown or determined to be
due on such returns, reports and declarations, except those being contested in
good faith and has set aside on its books provision reasonably adequate for the
payment of all taxes for periods subsequent to the periods to which such
returns, reports or declarations apply. There are no unpaid taxes in any
material amount
14
claimed to be due by the taxing authority of any jurisdiction, and the officers
of the Company know of no basis for any such claim.
Section 4.20. Certain Transactions. Except as set forth in the SEC
Documents none of the officers, directors, or employees of the Company is
presently a party to any transaction with the Company (other than for services
as employees, officers and directors), including any contract, agreement or
other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to or by, providing
for rental of real or personal property to or from, or otherwise requiring
payments to or from any officer, director or such employee or, to the knowledge
of the Company, any corporation, partnership, trust or other entity in which any
officer, director, or any such employee has a substantial interest or is an
officer, director, trustee or partner.
Section 4.21. Fees and Rights of First Refusal. Except as set forth
in the SEC Documents, the Company is not obligated to offer the securities
offered hereunder on a right of first refusal basis or otherwise to any third
parties including, but not limited to, current or former shareholders of the
Company, underwriters, brokers, agents or other third parties.
Section 4.22. Use of Proceeds. The Company represents that the net
proceeds from this offering will be used for general corporate purposes.
However, in no event shall the net proceeds from this offering be used by the
Company for the payment (or loaned to any such person for the payment) of any
judgment, or other liability, incurred by any executive officer, officer,
director or employee of the Company, except for any liability owed to such
person for services rendered, or if any judgment or other liability is incurred
by such person originating from services rendered to the Company, or the Company
has indemnified such person from liability.
Section 4.23. Further Representation and Warranties of the Company.
For so long as any securities issuable hereunder held by the Investor remain
outstanding, the Company acknowledges, represents, warrants and agrees that it
will maintain the listing of its Common Stock on the Principal Market.
Section 4.24. Opinion of Counsel. Investor shall receive an opinion
letter from Xxxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, counsel to the Company (updated where
applicable) on the date hereof.
Section 4.25. Opinion of Counsel. The Company will obtain for the
Investor, at the Company's expense, any and all opinions of counsel which may be
reasonably required in order to sell the securities issuable hereunder without
restriction.
Section 4.26. Dilution. The Company is aware and acknowledges that
issuance of shares of the Company's Common Stock could cause dilution to
existing shareholders and could significantly increase the outstanding number of
shares of Common Stock.
15
ARTICLE V.
INDEMNIFICATION
The Investor and the Company represent to the other the following with
respect to itself:
Section 5.1. Indemnification.
(a) In consideration of the Investor's execution and
delivery of this Agreement, and in addition to all of the Company's other
obligations under this Agreement, the Company shall defend, protect, indemnify
and hold harmless the Investor, and all of its officers, directors, partners,
employees and agents (including, without limitation, those retained in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) (collectively,
the "Investor Indemnitees") from and against any and all actions, causes of
action, suits, claims, losses, costs, penalties, fees, liabilities and damages,
and expenses in connection therewith (irrespective of whether any such Investor
Indemnitee is a party to the action for which indemnification hereunder is
sought), and including reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements (the
"Indemnified Liabilities"), incurred by the Investor Indemnitees or any of them
as a result of, or arising out of, or relating to (a) any misrepresentation or
breach of any representation or warranty made by the Company in this Agreement
or the Registration Rights Agreement or any other certificate, instrument or
document contemplated hereby or thereby, (b) any breach of any covenant,
agreement or obligation of the Company contained in this Agreement or the
Registration Rights Agreement or any other certificate, instrument or document
contemplated hereby or thereby, or (c) any cause of action, suit or claim
brought or made against such Investor Indemnitee not arising out of any action
or inaction of an Investor Indemnitee, and arising out of or resulting from the
execution, delivery, performance or enforcement of this Agreement or any other
instrument, document or agreement executed pursuant hereto by any of the
Investor Indemnitees. To the extent that the foregoing undertaking by the
Company may be unenforceable for any reason, the Company shall make the maximum
contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified
Liabilities, which is permissible under applicable law.
(b) In consideration of the Company's execution and
delivery of this Agreement, and in addition to all of the Investor's other
obligations under this Agreement, the Investor shall defend, protect, indemnify
and hold harmless the Company and all of its officers, directors, shareholders,
employees and agents (including, without limitation, those retained in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) (collectively,
the "Company Indemnitees") from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities
incurred by the Company Indemnitees or any of them as a result of, or arising
out of, or relating to (a) any misrepresentation or breach of any representation
or warranty made by the Investor in this Agreement, the Registration Rights
Agreement, or any instrument or document contemplated hereby or thereby executed
by the Investor, (b) any breach of any covenant, agreement or obligation of the
Investor(s) contained in this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement or
any other certificate, instrument or document contemplated hereby or thereby
executed by the Investor, or (c) any cause of action, suit or claim brought or
made against such Company Indemnitee based on misrepresentations or due to a
breach by the Investor and arising out of or resulting from the execution,
delivery, performance or enforcement of this Agreement or any other instrument,
document or agreement executed pursuant hereto by any of the Company
16
Indemnitees. To the extent that the foregoing undertaking by the Investor may be
unenforceable for any reason, the Investor shall make the maximum contribution
to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified Liabilities, which is
permissible under applicable law.
ARTICLE VI.
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
Section 6.1. Registration Rights. The Company shall cause the
Registration Rights Agreement to remain in full force and effect and the Company
shall comply in all material respects with the terms thereof.
Section 6.2. Listing of Common Stock. The Company shall maintain
the Common Stock's authorization for quotation on the National Association of
Securities Dealers Inc.'s Over the Counter Bulletin Board.
Section 6.3. Exchange Act Registration. The Company will file in a
timely manner all reports and other documents required of it as a reporting
company under the Exchange Act and will not take any action or file any document
(whether or not permitted by Exchange Act or the rules there under to terminate
or suspend such registration or to terminate or suspend its reporting and filing
obligations under said Exchange Act.
Section 6.4. Transfer Agent Instructions. Not later than two (2)
business days after each Advance Notice Date and prior to each Closing and the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement and resale of the Common Stock by
the Investor, the Company will deliver instructions to its transfer agent to
issue shares of Common Stock free of restrictive legends.
Section 6.5. Corporate Existence. The Company will take all steps
necessary to preserve and continue the corporate existence of the Company.
Section 6.6. Notice of Certain Events Affecting Registration;
Suspension of Right to Make an Advance. The Company will immediately notify the
Investor upon its becoming aware of the occurrence of any of the following
events in respect of a registration statement or related prospectus relating to
an offering of Registrable Securities: (i) receipt of any request for additional
information by the SEC or any other Federal or state governmental authority
during the period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement for amendments
or supplements to the registration statement or related prospectus; (ii) the
issuance by the SEC or any other Federal or state governmental authority of any
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iii) receipt of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption
from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such
purpose; (iv) the happening of any event that makes any statement made in the
Registration Statement or related prospectus of any document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or
that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, related
prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it
will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, and that in the case of the related prospectus, it will
not contain any untrue
17
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (v) the Company's
reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement would be appropriate; and the Company will promptly make available to
the Investor any such supplement or amendment to the related prospectus. The
Company shall not deliver to the Investor any Advance Notice during the
continuation of any of the foregoing events.
Section 6.7. Expectations Regarding Advance Notices. Within ten
(10) days after the commencement of each calendar quarter occurring subsequent
to the commencement of the Commitment Period, the Company must notify the
Investor, in writing, as to its reasonable expectations as to the dollar amount
it intends to raise during such calendar quarter, if any, through the issuance
of Advance Notices. Such notification shall constitute only the Company's good
faith estimate and shall in no way obligate the Company to raise such amount, or
any amount, or otherwise limit its ability to deliver Advance Notices. The
failure by the Company to comply with this provision can be cured by the
Company's notifying the Investor, in writing, at any time as to its reasonable
expectations with respect to the current calendar quarter.
Section 6.8. Restriction on Sale of Capital Stock. During the
period from the date hereof until one-hundred and twenty (120) days after the
Effective Date, the Company shall not issue or sell (i) any Common Stock or
preferred stock without consideration or (ii) issue or sell any preferred stock
warrant, option, right, contract, call, or other security or instrument granting
the holder thereof the right to acquire Common Stock without consideration or
for a consideration per share less than such Common Stock's Bid Price determined
immediately prior to its issuance or (iii) file any registration statement on
Form S-8 or (iv) grant a security interest in any of the Assets of the Company.
Section 6.9. Consolidation; Merger. During the period from the
date hereof until one hundred and twenty (120) days after the Effective Date,
the Company shall not, at any time after the date hereof, effect any merger or
consolidation of the Company with or into, or a transfer of all or substantially
all the assets of the Company to another entity (a "Consolidation Event") unless
the resulting successor or acquiring entity (if not the Company) assumes by
written instrument the obligation to deliver to the Investor such shares of
stock and/or securities as the Investor is entitled to receive pursuant to this
Agreement.
Section 6.10. Issuance of the Company's Common Stock. The sale of
the shares of Common Stock shall be made in accordance with the provisions and
requirements of Regulation D and any applicable state securities law.
ARTICLE VII.
CONDITIONS FOR ADVANCE AND CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
Section 7.1. Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of the
Company. The obligation hereunder of the Company to issue and sell the shares of
Common Stock to the Investor incident to each Closing is subject to the
satisfaction, or waiver by the Company, at or before each such Closing, of each
of the conditions set forth below.
18
(a) Accuracy of the Investor's Representations and
Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Investor shall be true and
correct in all material respects.
(b) Performance by the Investor. The Investor shall have
performed, satisfied and complied in all respects with all covenants, agreements
and conditions required by this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement
to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Investor at or prior to such
Closing.
Section 7.2. Conditions Precedent to the Right of the Company to
Deliver an Advance Notice and the Obligation of the Investor to Purchase Shares
of Common Stock. The right of the Company to deliver an Advance Notice and the
obligation of the Investor hereunder to acquire and pay for shares of the
Company's Common Stock incident to a Closing is subject to the fulfillment by
the Company, on (i) the date of delivery of such Advance Notice and (ii) the
applicable Advance Date (each a "Condition Satisfaction Date"), of each of the
following conditions:
(a) Registration of the Common Stock with the SEC. The
Company shall have filed with the SEC a Registration Statement with respect to
the resale of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of the
Registration Rights Agreement. As set forth in the Registration Rights
Agreement, the Registration Statement shall have previously become effective and
shall remain effective on each Condition Satisfaction Date and (i) neither the
Company nor the Investor shall have received notice that the SEC has issued or
intends to issue a stop order with respect to the Registration Statement or that
the SEC otherwise has suspended or withdrawn the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, either temporarily or permanently, or intends or has
threatened to do so (unless the SEC's concerns have been addressed and the
Investor is reasonably satisfied that the SEC no longer is considering or
intends to take such action), and (ii) no other suspension of the use or
withdrawal of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or related
prospectus shall exist. The Registration Statement must have been declared
effective by the SEC prior to the first Advance Notice Date.
(b) Authority. The Company shall have obtained all
permits and qualifications required by any applicable state in accordance with
the Registration Rights Agreement for the offer and sale of the shares of Common
Stock, or shall have the availability of exemptions there from. The sale and
issuance of the shares of Common Stock shall be legally permitted by all laws
and regulations to which the Company is subject.
(c) Fundamental Changes. There shall not exist any
fundamental changes to the information set forth in the Registration Statement
which would require the Company to file a post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement.
(d) Performance by the Company. The Company shall have
performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants,
agreements and conditions required by this Agreement (including, without
limitation, the conditions specified in Section 2.5 hereof) and the Registration
Rights Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Company at
or prior to each Condition Satisfaction Date.
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(e) No Injunction. No statute, rule, regulation,
executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered,
promulgated or endorsed by any court or governmental authority of competent
jurisdiction that prohibits or directly and adversely affects any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and no proceeding shall have been
commenced that may have the effect of prohibiting or adversely affecting any of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(f) No Suspension of Trading in or Delisting of Common
Stock. The trading of the Common Stock is not suspended by the SEC or the
Principal Market (if the Common Stock is traded on a Principal Market). The
issuance of shares of Common Stock with respect to the applicable Closing, if
any, shall not violate the shareholder approval requirements of the Principal
Market (if the Common Stock is traded on a Principal market). The Company shall
not have received any notice threatening the continued listing of the Common
Stock on the Principal Market (if the Common Stock is traded on a Principal
Market).
(g) Maximum Advance Amount. The amount of the individual
Advance requested by the Company does not exceed the Maximum Advance Amount. In
addition, in no event shall the number of shares issuable to the Investor
pursuant to an Advance cause the Investor to own in excess of nine and 9/10
percent (9.9%) of the then outstanding Common Stock of the Company.
(h) No Knowledge. The Company has no knowledge of any
event more likely than not to have the effect of causing such Registration
Statement to be suspended or otherwise ineffective.
(i) Other. On each Condition Satisfaction Date, the
Investor shall have received the certificate executed by an officer of the
Company in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.
ARTICLE VIII.
DUE DILIGENCE REVIEW; NON-DISCLOSURE OF NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION
Section 8.1. Due Diligence Review. Prior to the filing of the
Registration Statement the Company shall make available for inspection and
review by the Investor, advisors to and representatives of the Investor, any
underwriter participating in any disposition of the Registrable Securities on
behalf of the Investor pursuant to the Registration Statement, any such
registration statement or amendment or supplement thereto or any blue sky, NASD
or other filing, all financial and other records, all SEC Documents and other
filings with the SEC, and all other corporate documents and properties of the
Company as may be reasonably necessary for the purpose of such review, and cause
the Company's officers, directors and employees to supply all such information
reasonably requested by the Investor or any such representative, advisor or
underwriter in connection with such Registration Statement (including, without
limitation, in response to all questions and other inquiries reasonably made or
submitted by any of them), prior to and from time to time after the filing and
effectiveness of the Registration Statement for the sole purpose of enabling the
Investor and such representatives, advisors and underwriters and their
respective accountants and attorneys to conduct initial and ongoing due
diligence with respect to the Company and the accuracy of the Registration
Statement.
20
Section 8.2. Non-Disclosure of Non-Public Information.
(a) The Company shall not disclose non-public information
to the Investor, advisors to or representatives of the Investor unless prior to
disclosure of such information the Company identifies such information as being
non-public information and provides the Investor, such advisors and
representatives with the opportunity to accept or refuse to accept such
non-public information for review. The Company may, as a condition to disclosing
any non-public information hereunder, require the Investor's advisors and
representatives to enter into a confidentiality agreement in form reasonably
satisfactory to the Company and the Investor.
(b) Nothing herein shall require the Company to disclose
non-public information to the Investor or its advisors or representatives, and
the Company represents that it does not disseminate non-public information to
any investors who purchase stock in the Company in a public offering, to money
managers or to securities analysts, provided, however, that notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, the Company will, as hereinabove provided,
immediately notify the advisors and representatives of the Investor and, if any,
underwriters, of any event or the existence of any circumstance (without any
obligation to disclose the specific event or circumstance) of which it becomes
aware, constituting non-public information (whether or not requested of the
Company specifically or generally during the course of due diligence by such
persons or entities), which, if not disclosed in the prospectus included in the
Registration Statement would cause such prospectus to include a material
misstatement or to omit a material fact required to be stated therein in order
to make the statements, therein, in light of the circumstances in which they
were made, not misleading. Nothing contained in this Section 8.2 shall be
construed to mean that such persons or entities other than the Investor (without
the written consent of the Investor prior to disclosure of such information) may
not obtain non-public information in the course of conducting due diligence in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and nothing herein shall prevent any
such persons or entities from notifying the Company of their opinion that based
on such due diligence by such persons or entities, that the Registration
Statement contains an untrue statement of material fact or omits a material fact
required to be stated in the Registration Statement or necessary to make the
statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were
made, not misleading.
ARTICLE IX.
CHOICE OF LAW/JURISDICTION
Section 9.1. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by
and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without
regard to the principles of conflict of laws. The parties further agree that any
action between them shall be heard in Xxxxxx County, New Jersey, and expressly
consent to the jurisdiction and venue of the Superior Court of New Jersey,
sitting in Xxxxxx County, New Jersey and the United States District Court of New
Jersey, sitting in Newark, New Jersey, for the adjudication of any civil action
asserted pursuant to this paragraph.
ARTICLE X.
ASSIGNMENT; TERMINATION
Section 10.1. Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned by
either party.
21
Section 10.2. Termination. The obligations of the Investor to make
Advances under Article II hereof shall terminate twenty-four (24) months after
the Effective Date or thirty six (36) months after the Effective Date if the
Company files either an amendment to the effective Registration Statement or a
new Registration Statement has been declared effective.
ARTICLE XI.
NOTICES
Section 11.1. Notices. Any notices, consents, waivers, or other
communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this
Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered (i) upon
receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile,
provided a copy is mailed by U.S. certified mail, return receipt requested;
(iii) three (3) days after being sent by U.S. certified mail, return receipt
requested, or (iv) one (1) day after deposit with a nationally recognized
overnight delivery service, in each case properly addressed to the party to
receive the same. The addresses and facsimile numbers for such communications
shall be:
If to the Company, to: Advanced Viral Research Corp.
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Chief Financial Officer
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
With a copy to: Xxxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx - Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
If to the Investor(s): Cornell Capital Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx -Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxx
Portfolio Manager
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
With a copy to: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx - Xxxxx 0
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
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Each party shall provide five (5) days' prior written notice to the other party
of any change in address or facsimile number.
ARTICLE XII.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 12.1. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two
or more identical counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the
same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by
each party and delivered to the other party. In the event any signature page is
delivered by facsimile transmission, the party using such means of delivery
shall cause four (4) additional original executed signature pages to be
physically delivered to the other party within five (5) days of the execution
and delivery hereof.
Section 12.2. Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement
supersedes all other prior oral or written agreements between the Investor, the
Company, their affiliates and persons acting on their behalf with respect to the
matters discussed herein, and this Agreement and the instruments referenced
herein contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the
matters covered herein and therein and, except as specifically set forth herein
or therein, neither the Company nor the Investor makes any representation,
warranty, covenant or undertaking with respect to such matters. No provision of
this Agreement may be waived or amended other than by an instrument in writing
signed by the party to be charged with enforcement.
Section 12.3. Reporting Entity for the Common Stock. The reporting
entity relied upon for the determination of the trading price or trading volume
of the Common Stock on any given Trading Day for the purposes of this Agreement
shall be Bloomberg, L.P. or any successor thereto. The written mutual consent of
the Investor and the Company shall be required to employ any other reporting
entity.
Section 12.4. Fees and Expenses. The Company hereby agrees to pay
the following fees:
(a) Legal Fees. Each of the parties shall pay its own
fees and expenses (including the fees of any attorneys, accountants, appraisers
or others engaged by such party) in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby, except that the Company will pay the fees and
expenses of Xxxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP and the sum of Fifteen Thousand Dollars
($15,000), to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP for legal, administrative, and escrow fees
directly from the gross proceeds of the Convertible Debenture transaction
pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement dated the date hereof.
Subsequently on each advance date, the Company will pay Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP, the
sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500) for legal, administrative and escrow fees and
any outstanding fees of Xxxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP directly out the proceeds of
any Advances hereunder.
(b) Commitment Fees. On each Advance Date the Company
shall pay to the Investor, directly from the gross proceeds held in escrow, an
amount equal to five percent (5%) of the amount of each Advance. The Company
hereby agrees that if such payment, as is described above, is not made by the
Company on the Advance Date, such payment will be made at the direction of the
Investor as outlined and mandated by Section 2.3 of this Agreement.
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Section 12.5. Brokerage. Each of the parties hereto represents
that it has had no dealings in connection with this transaction with any finder
or broker who will demand payment of any fee or commission from the other party.
The Company on the one hand, and the Investor, on the other hand, agree to
indemnify the other against and hold the other harmless from any and all
liabilities to any person claiming brokerage commissions or finder's fees on
account of services purported to have been rendered on behalf of the
indemnifying party in connection with this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby.
Section 12.6. Confidentiality. If for any reason the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement are not consummated, each of the parties hereto
shall keep confidential any information obtained from any other party (except
information publicly available or in such party's domain prior to the date
hereof, and except as required by court order) and shall promptly return to the
other parties all schedules, documents, instruments, work papers or other
written information without retaining copies thereof, previously furnished by it
as a result of this Agreement or in connection herein.
Section 12.7. Survival of Representations and Warranties. The
representations and warranties of the Company and Investor contained herein
shall survive a period of one (1) year after the expiration of the Commitment
Period.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Line of Credit
Agreement to be executed by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, as of
the date first set forth above.
COMPANY:
ADVANCED VIRAL RESEARCH CORP.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, MD
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, MD
Title: Chief Executive Officer
INVESTOR:
CORNELL CAPITAL PARTNERS, LP
BY: YORKVILLE ADVISORS, LLC
ITS: GENERAL PARTNER
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx
----------------------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Portfolio Manager
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